Holy poop! It's been awhile huh?
Nate's POV
Sighing heavly, I give the final commands to Howell to take over before heading back down to my chambers to retire early. We'll reach our destination within a day and a half then I'll be that much closer to finding Charlie. Howell looks at me with concern in his eyes, his greying bushy eyebrows pulled together in a small frown. He opens his mouth to say something else to me but then decides against it and only nods to let me know he understood.
I turn away from him, unable to bear the stares of my crew any longer, all surpised to see me retire early. Howell must have noticed their stares and barked out orders causing some of them to jump, springing into action. Their heavy thuds against the wood scramble in perfect working order, readying the ship's sails for nightfall.
I look out to the vast ocean and the heavyness around my heart seems to have gained weight, causing my entire body to feel heavy. The sun has started to hang low in the horizen, it too, getting ready for darkness. And for a moment, I wish it could be light all day. The darkness of the night is much too similar to the ever growing darkness in my soul.
My mind is constantly haunted by the logical answer that Charlie just didn't disappear, she's dead. But my heart fights back in a losing battle, clinging onto the sliver of hope that since we didn't find a body she's still alive. She drowned you moron, of course you didn't find her body! The darkness snarls in my head and I press against my temples to try and get rid of the throbbing pain that never goes away.
I climb down the steep steps stiffly and ignore the mouth watering smells that come from the cook's kitchen. My stomach rumbles in protest but still, I ignore it. I realize I haven't eaten since morning but my rumbling stomach provides me a distraction from the emptyness I feel.
Moving on their own, I find myself being lead by my own feet down the hall where Charlie's chambers are. Before I know it Im standing infront of her door, looking up at the custom stained glass window that Gin made for her. Her name is spelled out in solid black iron surrounded by colorful pieces of glass.
I swallow hard and grasp the cold metal handle but hesitate before pushing it open. I'm breathing heavily as if I had just ran ten miles, my heart slamming against my chest. After a few minutes I swig the door open and step inside for the first time since her disappearence.
I'm greeted by the large french window at is at the bow of the ship with the sinking sun directly infront of the window. Her thick crimsion curtans remain pulled open, tied back with gold rope in perfect bows. The long plush window seat is empty, looking naked with Charlie laying there with a book in her face. She's always there in the evenings. Always reading.
I choke back a sob, angerly willing myself to not cry. Crying will get me nowhere, I firmly tell myself. Looking away from the window her large bed fit for a queen is too empty and my heart falls to my stomach, crushed by stupid false hope she would appear out of the blue.
The sun's rays causes a glint to catch my eye. Her grand piano in the back corner of chambers stays silent while it collects dust. I run my hand on top of the smooth surface and sit on the tiny stool. Memories hit me full force, drowning me in sorrow and regret. Guilt swallows me whole how I couldn't protect her.
"Watch after her Nate... your sister is a special little girl."Â The only words I remember from my mother suddenly rings loudly in my ears. My forehead tingles from the faint memory of my mother's lips kissing me briefly before leaving me with my sister in my arms, crying out for our mother. That's my earliest memory, and the only one of my mother. Chalrie was only 4 at the time and I was no older than 10, left helpess on the beach.
The memory changes with a flash of light before my eyes to one where Charlie is now a hyper 13 year old and sitting on my lap, watching me play her brand new piano our Captian purchsed for her. Her black hair is pulled back but strands kept falling in her face so she kept pushing it out of her face, growing more and more annoyed.
"I hate my hair!"Â She complains to me. "Why can't I cut mine like yours?" Her bottom lip sticks unknowingly out in a sour pout.
I laugh and stop playing for a moment. "Because your hair is too beautiful Charlie."
She turns to face me in my lap and a smile slowly grows on her face. "Yeah... I guess I am pretty beautiful huh?" She giggles and mistchif glints in her eyes. "The most beautiful pirate in all the seas!"
I return her smile, but roll my eyes. "Don't push it little sister. I might just have to throw you overboard!"
Her hands are placed over mine as I smoothly return playing the piano. Charlie's eyes widen subconciously as she watches me play, studying me closely. We had spent all day practicing and I remember the amazement I had when she picked it up effortlessly. By the end of the week, Charlie was already developing her own music and created one of my favorites.
Im thrown out of my memory and feel tears streaming down my cheeks. I lift the piano keys cover and then feel the cold black and white keys. A tear falls from my cheek and splashes onto one of the keys. I decide then to start to play, reliving Charlie even if she is dead. I play slowly at first but then faster and faster, the random notes melting together into a song. Charlie's song.
Our song.
I lose myself in the notes, closing my eyes the song breaths a new life into me and slowly the tears stop coming. I only focus on the song, nothing else. For now, the song is Charlie and for now Charlie is alive. She's alive through the song until I find her. She will live through our song.
Minutes go by, the song starts to come to an end when suddenly a shadow looms over my face. I stop playing abrubtly and rise out of my seat, almost knocking over my stool. The sun is halfway down among the horizen, causing the ocean to look like melted gold but a small, slim figure stands infront of the window, the cause of the shadow.
When I see tha it's Julia, a low growl rumbles in my throat. Her back is turned to me and her curly chestnut colored hair hangs low to the center of her back. She just stands there as if she is too memorized by the sun to even notice where she is... and what dangerous territory she is in.
Enraged I approach her but stop myself from snatching her arm and throwing her out of the room. I stand behind her, ready to shout when I notice her shoulders tense up. She takes in a sharp gasp and spins around, flintching when she meets my furious gaze.
I couldn't help but notice how the sun's last rays cast an angelic like golden glow around her. The highlights of her messy, curly hair catching the sun and her smooth porcelain skin turning into a beautiful honey like color. For the first time I notice her attire.
Her once silk gown is dirty and permantly wrinkled but her elegant curves are still noticeable if you look long enough, which I dont. The curls of her hair are tangled but still manage to look beautiful. Her rose-pink lips are now pale and dry, probably from lack of water. Light purple bags hang beneith her large doe eyes that are looking downward to her bare feet which are thin and slightly dirty. A light layer of dirt coat her cheeks, masking the increasing reddness.
"Why are you here?" I ask but my voice comes out more angry and spiteful than I intended and Julia flintches a step backward. Her mouth opens but closes then opens and closes again and no words come out. "How did you get in?" I ask again.
"I'm.. I'm sorry. I just heard music. I... I was awfully bored." She stammers, still not meeting my gaze. "I'll take my leave now. I won't come in here again." She shocks me how fragile she really is, unlike the confident woman she was when I took her.
She starts to turn away, heading for the door but I reach out and grab her arm, stopping her. She snaps her eyes to me, narrowing them. "Unhand me. I'm taking my leave now." she demands and amusement bubbles inside me. Thats how we bring her fiesty side out, I think smugly. Even when annoyed she's still so proper.
"No." I growl. "Do you know who this room belongs to?" I pull her closer to me, squeezing tighter just to see what she will do.
Fury flashes across her eyes and her voice is sharp. "I'm not a dim witted oaf, this room belonged..." Her sharp voice suddenly turns soft, "belongs. Belongs to Charlie." She corrects herself.
I loosen my grip on her but still hold on to her, trying to not notice how the hotness of her skin against mine is making me feel. "Don't come back in here. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Now let me go!" I release her arm and she rubs the spot where I held her. She winces and I notice how red her arm is growing. "God! That hurt! There are different methods to ask a woman to leave you know!" She rants.
Looking back at her face, its flushed with anger, wincing as she rubs her arm. A pang of guilt pokes at me, sorry that I had held her so roughly but I'm unable to bring myself to apologize. "You're such a horrible man! I wish I never came aboard this blasted ship!" Julia suddenly shouts at me. "I hate you so much, I hate all pirates! They're vile and unhuman, especially you! I demand to be off this ship at next port! I'll never help you now!"
"Oh no you don't. Its your fault she's gone so you're staying until we find her! You're just a spoiled pig who has no concern but for herself." I spit back with equal fury.
Julia steps towards me, rage burning in her eyes. "How dare you!" She screams. "I just wanted the bloody necklace back! Nothing more, you losing Charlie was your fault! You were just too weak and stupid to protect her!" Julia's body trembles, ready for my response but the last of her words stung. I blink, surpised at her words before stepping forward threatenly and stopping inches infront of her.
"AND YOU'RE THE ONE WHO MURDERED YOUR MOTHER AND SISTER!"Â Blinded by anger I roar at her with unimaginable fury but as soon as the words left my mouth I wished I could take them back. Charlie's still alive, she can still come back but Julia's family has been long dead... A mixture of disgust and pain shows on her face and she staggers backwards as if my words physically pushed her. She revealed the horrors of her past and I had just used it against her...
"Julia..." I start but she lets out a scream and lunges forward at me, hand raised, ready to slap me with all her might but I catch her hand. She screams again, tears falling heavily from her eyes.
Julia smashes her other fist against my chest, sobbing loudly. "I hate you! You bastard!" She screeches but I only hold her tightly against me. "Let me go!" She screams again.
She kicks her leg out and against my knee, causing me to lose my balance. I fall down onto my knees and Julia tries to hit me again. My skin burns against hers, emotions boiling inside of me that cause the pounding in my head to come back. Emotions about her, a beautiful young woman who is supposed to be my enemy. You care for her... My head mocks me
Julia manages to get her other hand free and the moment before her hand connects with my face, I crash my lips onto hers. Julia freezes in my arms, her own arm still in the air but I press my lips harder against hers. Time stilled and liquid fire seemed to flow through me as I kissed the stunned Julia DeBeau, the beautiful Julia DeBeau. The kiss lasted only mere seconds and Julia seemed to melt in my arms and onto the floor. Her lips were frozen against mine so it was more me kissing her but then I pulled back sharply.
As soon as I pulled away, I instantly wished that I hadn't. Julia gasps and shock is written all over her face. Her lips still slightly parted, her tears dried up instantly, and she looks so beautiful. Before Julia could even react I left her on the floor, in the center of my sister's room completely dazed and close the door behind me.
Oh dear... what did I just do? ;) Like? Against it? Leave your comments below.